HARIPUR: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said political decisions are not taken at courts and through sit-ins and regretted had there been no instability due to sit-ins, the government could have done much more for the masses.
The prime minister said the federal government would complete its constitutional term and the general elections would be held on time. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 47-kilometre Burhan-Shah Maqsood (Havelian) section of the Hazara Motorway on Wednesday.
The Hazara Motorway project is a six-lane road. It was launched in 2015 and has been completed in less than three years. The prime minister said the country's journey towards progress and prosperity would continue. He hoped the people would re-elect the PML-N in the 2018 general elections. He said the PML-N is the only party that has served the people despite facing impediments by the vested interests.
Talking about the Hazara Motorway, the prime minister said this important link road is part of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor that would bring prosperity and economic stability to the entire country. "The inauguration of E-35 Motorway would herald a revolution for the people of Hazara because it is not an ordinary project and has been built at a cost of Rs32 billion," he pointed out.
The prime minister expressed the hope that the motorway project would promote tourism and create job opportunities as the PML-N believes in serving the people. He thanked China for its cooperation in early completion of the Hazara Motorway by the Chinese engineers.
Abbasi said such projects require vision and hard work. "The PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has proved that he is a visionary by launching and completing mega projects,” he said.
Without naming the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, he said despite facing sit-ins and foul language, the PML-N and its leadership remained focused on its work and continued the struggle for changing the destiny of the people of Pakistan.
The prime minister said the number of development projects completed by the federal government during the last four years has no match in the country's history. "The projects of 11,000MW electricity and 1,800 km long motorway are the proof of the PML-N’s commitment to develop Pakistan," he elaborated.
Criticising the nine years long rule of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf and the five-year term of Pakistan People's Party, he said both failed to launch even a single major project. "People are asking where have they spent the national resources," he remarked.
The premier termed July 28 a difficult day for the government and the country -- the day when Nawaz Sharif was disqualified, and said the PML-N handled it well and those getting their ‘sherwanis’ ready will not gain anything.
Prime Minister Abbasi said the country has overcome load-shedding of electricity by adding a massive 11,000MW to the national grid and surplus natural gas, and added that now Pakistan is exporting urea, unlike the past when it had to import it due to shortage of gas.
Two days ago, locals demanding construction of interchange along with Hazara Motorway had blocked the road for hours. They gave an application to the prime minister about their demand.
Senior leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz , cabinet members, officials from China and National Highway Authority and people from different walks of life were present on the occasion.
Earlier, addressing the annual parents day of Cadet College Hasan Abdal, Prime Minister Abbasi said Pakistan is a vibrant democracy and is moving forward on the path of progress and development despite challenges.
He appreciated the cadet college for its contribution towards progress of the country through quality education. He announced the federal government would fully fund the expansion programme of the college through its public sector development programme.
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